Pressure producing device for pneumatic guns



30, 1952 LEFEVER I 2,623,514

PRESSURE PRODUCING DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIC GUNS Filed June 14, 1948 E IE: l

as '3 36 3| n I 2627 l 8 [6 as INVENTOR. .O/Akus f. Za a-v5? B Patented Dec. 30, 1952 PRESSURE PRODUCING DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIC GUNS Charles F. Lefever, Plymouth, Mich., assignor to Daisy Manufacturing Company,

Plymouth,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application June 14, 1948, Serial No. 32,880

6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to pneumatic guns and refers more particularly to improvements in guns of the type embodying a compressor for supplying air under pressure to the gun storage chamber.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a pneumatic gun having a simple compact compressor of a design enabling the same to be readily removably supported on the gun barrel in a position to enable convenient manipulation of the same for replenishing the supply of air under pressure within the storage chamber.

Another object of this invention is to provide a compressor of the displacement type having a piston rod projecting beyond the front end of the barrel and having a foot engaging member pivoted at one end of the rod forwardly beyond the gun barrel for swinging movement from an operative position extending substantially normal to the rod to an inoperative position lying adjacent one side of the barrel. The arrangement is such that when the compressor is attached to the gun, the latter may be supported in an inverted position with the foot engaging member resting on a suitable support in a position to be engaged by one foot of the user. The stock of the gun may then be grasped by both hands of the user and given a series of up and down strokes. Thus, the pressure in the storage chamber may be quickly built up to the required amount with a minimum of effort.

Still another object of this invention is to pro vide a retaining means on the barrel responsive to movement of the rod to its rearwardmost or retracted position to receive the swinging end of the foot engaging member to hold the latter in its inoperative position adjacent the barrel and releasable from the member in response to initial forward movement of the rod.

A further feature of this invention is to provide a fitting at the front end of the barrel forming a guide for the piston rod and having a spring pressed detent engageable in a groove formed in the rod for yieldably holding the rod in its retracted or rearwardmost position.

The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent as this description proceeds especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the foot engaging part in its inoperative position with respect to the gun barrel;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

In Figure 1 of the drawing, the muzzle end portion of a pneumatic gun is shown. In accordance with conventional practice, the gun comprises a frame It! having a barrel ll formed with an axially extending passage l2 for shot and also formed with an axially extending bore [3 directly below the passage l2. A storage chamber (not shown) for air under pressure is provided in the bore l3 in the usual manner and in the present instance, the capacity of the storage chamber is supplemented by a tube [4 mounted on the gun frame directly below the bore I3. The front end of the tube I 4 is closed and the rear end of the tube communicates in any suitable manner with the storage chamber.

The storage chamber is periodically replenished with air under pressure by a compressor assembly l5 comprising a cylinder l6 and a piston I! supported for sliding movement within the cylinder. The cylinder l 6 is supported within the bore l3 and is closed adjacent the rear end by a block I8 having an axially extending passage [9 therethrough. The passage IE9 establishes communication between the cylinder at the pressure side of the piston I1 and the storage chamber. The front end of the cylinder has a pressed fit with a sleeve 2!! externally threaded for threadably engaging the gun frame at the front end of the bore I3 and having an annular shoulder 2| adapted to abut the front end of the barrel. This construction enables the cylinder It to be readily secured in place on the gun frame within the barrel [3 and also enables the cylinder to be removed when desired.

The piston l1 comprises a plunger 22 and a cup-shaped sealing member 23 formed of rubber or some equivalent flexible material. The plunger 22 has a diameter substantially less than the internal diameter of the cylinder and the annular flange on the cup-shaped sealing member 23 surrounds the plunger 22. In operation. the annular flange of the sealing member 23 frictionally engages the inner Wall of the cylinder H3 and provides a seal around the plunger as the latter is moved on its pressure stroke. The plunger 22 is provided with an axially extending bore which is internally threaded for threadably engaging the rear end of a piston opcrating rod 24 and the base of the cup-shaped sealing member 23 is centrally apertured to receive the operating rod.

Upon reference to Figure l of the drawing, it will be noted that the threaded rear end of the operating rod 24 is reduced to provide an annular shoulder for positioning the plunger 22 and sealing member 23 thereon. The reduced threaded end of the rod is also formed with an axially extending bore providing an air passage 25. The air passage 25 communicates with the interior of the cylinder It at the suction side of the piston H and also communicates with the cylinder at the pressure side of the piston ll. In other words, the passage 25 forms a bypass around the piston and enables the flow of air from the suction side of the piston to the pressure side of the piston during movement of the latter on its suction stroke. The escape of air in the reverse direction during the pressure stroke of the piston is prevented by a check valve 25 comprising a ball located within the bore in the rod and normally urged in engagement with an annular seat surrounding the passage 2:5 by a coil spring 21. The coil spring is located within the bore in the rod with one end engaging the ball 26 and with the opposite end engaging a stop 28 in the form of a sleeve having a pressed fit within the rear end of the bore formed in the rod.

The rod 2% is of such length that when the piston H is in its rearwardmost position in engagement with the block [8, the front end of the rod projects forwardly beyond the corresponding end of the sleeve 2%. The rod is guided by a fitting 29 having a bore 39 therethrough for slidably receiving the rod and having a portion anchored within the sleeve 28 by a suitable set screw 3 I The fitting 29 has an annular enlargement 32 at the front end adapted to abut the enlargement 2| on the sleeve 25) and is formed with a radially extending bore 33 for accommodating a spring operated detent comprising a ball 34 and a spring 35. The radially inner end of the spring 35 engages the ball 34 and. the outer end of the spring engages a screw 35 threaded within the outer end of the bore 33.

The above arrangement is such that the ball 34 is yieldably urged into engagement with the rod 24 and the latter is formed with an annular groove 37 for engagement by the ball 34. The

location of the groove 37 is such that the ball engages in this groove when the rod 24 is in its rearwardmost position in the cylinder 16 or, in other words, when the piston i7 is in abutting engagement with the block l8. Thus, the spring operated detent yieldably holds the piston operating rod 24 in its retracted or rearwardmost position in the cylinder against accidental displacement in a forward direction. However, the construction is such as to enable the rod to be readily released from the detent by applying a slight forward pull on the front end of the rod. It is pointed out at this time that movement of the piston ll to its forwardmost position in the cylinder i8 is cushioned by a coil spring 38 surrounding the rod within the cylinder 16 at the rear side of the fitting 29.

The front end of the rod 252 has an enlargement 39 to which one end of a foot engaging member 4i! is pivoted by a pin ll. The member 49 is generally channel shaped in cross section and is provided with laterally spaced ears d2 projecting from the inner end and adapted to receive therebetween a portion of the enlargement 39 in the manner shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. The

cars 42 are formed with aligned openings therethrough for receiving the pivot pin 4|. It will be noted from Figure 4 of the drawing that a transverse shoulder 43 is formed by the end of the member 49 between the cars 42 and this shoulder is adapted to engage the adjacent side of the enlargement 39 on the rod 24 to limit outward swinging movement of the member 40 to a position wherein the latter extends normal to the rod 24.

When the gun is in use, the member 49 is swung to the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawing wherein it extends rearwardly along the bottom side of the barrel 1 l and is held against accidental displacement from this position by a clip or part 45. The part 45 is shown in Figure 5 of the drawing as having a bottom portion 46 extending around the front end of the tube l4 and secured to the latter by a stud 47. The part 45 also has forwardly extending fingers 43 which respectively employ opposite sides of the barrel and are connected to the bottom portion Q3 of the part by loop portions it. The portions 29 cooperate with the adjacent portions of the tube and barrel to form laterally spaced recesses 50. The recesses 50 respectively receive correspondingly spaced fingers 5| which project from the swinging end of the member 40 in the manner shown in Figure 2 of the drawing.

The above arrangement is such that upon completion of the pumping operation and just prior to moving the rod 24 to its retracted position shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the member 43 is swung from its operative position normal to the rod 24 to its inoperative position substantially parallel to the rod. Thus, upon completion of the movement of the rod to its rearwardmost position, the fingers 5| enter the recesses 50 at about the same time the ball 34 of the detent engages in the groove 31 in the rod. As a result the piston operating rod 24 is not only yieldably retained in its retracted position but the foot operated member is also held in its inoperative position where it does not interfere with manipulation of the gun.

It will be understood from the foregoing that when it is desired to replenish a supply of air under pressure in the storage chamber of the gun, the user merely exerts a forward pull on the piston rod 24 to release the spring operated detent from engagement with the groove 31 on the rod. This forward movement is sufficient to release the fingers 51 on the member 40 from the retaining recesses Ell so that the member 40 may be swung to its operative position wherein it extends perpendicular to the rod 24. The gun may then be supported in an inverted position and the member 40 engaged by one foot of the user. The stock of the gun is grasped by both hands of the user and the gun is moved with an up and down motion. This movement of the gun provides the pumping action required to replenish the storage chamber with air under pressure.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A pneumatic gun comprising a projectile shooting barrel having an axially extending bore open at the front end, a compressor having a cylinder supported on the barrel and having a piston slidably supported within the cylinder, said cylinder communicating with said barrel bore, a rod having one end connected to the piston and having the opposite end projecting outwardly through the front end of the cylinder, a foot engageable operating member pivoted at one end to the projecting end of the rod for swinging movement from an operative position substantially normal to the rod to an inoperative position adjacent one side of the barrel, and means on the barrel engageable with the swinging end of the member for holding the latter in the inoperative position aforesaid.

2. A pneumatic gun comprising a projectile shooting barrel having an axially extending bore open at the front end, a fluid compressor having a cylinder supported on the barrel and having a piston slidably supported within the cylinder, said cylinder communicating with said barrel bore, whereby compressed fluid may be transmitted to said barrel bore behind a projectile therein for propelling the projectile from the barrel a rod having one end connected to the piston and having the opposite end projecting outwardly through the front end of the cylinder, a foot engageable operating member pivoted at one end to the projecting end of the rod for swinging movement from an operative position substantially normal to the rod to an inoperative position adjacent one side of the barrel, and retaining means on the barrel for slidably receiving the swinging end of said member in response to rearward sliding movement of the rod while the member is supported in its inoperative position aforesaid to hold the member in the latter position.

3. A pneumatic gun comprising a projectile shooting barrel having an axially extending bore open at the front end, a fluid compressor having a cylinder supported on the barrel and having a piston slidably supported Within the cylinder, said cylinder communicating with said barrel bore for transmitting compressed fluid thereto a rod having one end connected to the piston and having the opposite end projecting outwardly through the front end of the cylinder, an operating member pivoted at one end to the projecting end of the rod for swinging movement from an operative position substantially normal to the rod to an inoperative position adjacent one side of the barrel, and having laterally spaced fingers projecting from the swinging end, and retaining means on the barrel responsive to movement of the rod to its rearwardmost osition to slidably receive said fingers and responsive to initial forward movement of the rod to release the fingers.

4. A pneumatic gun comprising a projectile shooting barrel having an axially extending bore open at the front end, a fluid compressor having a cylinder supported on the barrel and having a piston slidably supported within the cylinder said cylinder communicating with said barrel bore for transmitting compressed fluid thereto, a fitting secured within the front end of the cylinder and having an opening therethrough, a rod extending into the cylinder through said opening and having an annular groove adjacent the front end adapted to assume a, position within the fitting in the rearwardmost position of the rod in the cylinder, a spring pressed detent supported within the fitting and engageable in said groove to yieldably hold said rod in the rearwardmost position thereof, a foot engageable operating member pivoted at one end to the rod forwardly beyond the fitting for swinging movement from an operative position extending substantially normal to the rod to an inoperative position adjacent one side of the barrel, and retaining means for holding the member in the inoperative position aforesaid when said rod is held in its rearmost position by said deten't.

5. A pneumatic gun including housing means having a bore therein, a compressor in said bore including a pump piston movable in said bore to rovide an air charge for said gun for use in propelling projectiles therefrom, a rod member connected with said piston for use in actuating the latter and having a portion projecting beyond said housing means, a handle for said pump piston rod member, means pivotally connecting said handle to the pump member exteriorly of said housing means so that said handle can be swung between an operative position wherein it extends substantially normal to said member and an inoperative position wherein it extends substantially parallel to said member, means on said handle for abutting said member when said handle is in said operative position, said means being positioned so as to positively engage said member during movement of the latter on the suction stroke only of said pump, and permitting said handle to pivot relative to said member during movement on the pressure stroke of the pump member.

6. A pneumatic gun including housing means having a bore therein, a compressor in said bore including a pump piston movable in said bore to provide an air charge for said gun for use in propelling projectiles therefrom an operating member connected with said piston for use in actuating the latter and having a portion projecting beyond said housing means adapted to move axially in one direction on the pump suction stroke and in the opposite direction on the pump pressure stroke, a handle, means pivotally connecting said handle to said operating member adjacent to one end of the latter and exteriorly of said housing means, so as to permit said handle to swing between an outwardly projecting operative position and an inoperative position, cooperative surfaces on said handle and operating member adapted to engage each other when said handle is in said operative position, said surfaces being arranged and disposed relative to each other so that said surfaces positively engage each other only during movement of said member on the suction stroke, and so that said handle element is free to swing to its inoperative position during movement of said member on the pressure stroke.

CHARLES F. LEFEVER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 136,315 Giffard Feb. 25, 1873 560,570 Burns May 19, 1896 2,101,198 Robinson Dec. 7, 1937 2,273,678 Webby Feb. 1'7, 1942 2,455,946 Peters Dec. 14, 1948 2,462,980 Litt Mar. 1, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 262,021 Great Britain Dec. 2, 1926 

